Sure, it's the Pacific Coast League where no lead is safe and where you never can have enough hits.
But it seems like 12 runs and 16 hits would give you some breathing room.Not for the Salt Lake Buzz Tuesday night at Franklin Covey Field.
The Buzz had two separate five-run rallies, scored double-digit runs and pounded out 16 base hits, but their 12-10 victory over New Orleans was still in doubt with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
"We were anxious the whole game," Salt Lake manage Phil Roof said after seeing his club blow a 7-0 second-inning lead. "It's frustrating for the hitters to go out and get a lead an then lose it. They shouldn't have that much pressure to score runs."
The Buzz (36-23) pounded out seven of their 16 hits -- four consecutive -- in the first inning in building what appeared to be a pretty safe lead. Plus, Salt Lake starter Scott Randall mowed down the Zephyrs in order in the first inning.
But it didn't turn out so easy.
After Robin Jennings doubled and Doug Meintkiewicz singled to start the first-inning rally, Todd Walker singled home Jennings and Mientkiewicz scored on a double-play ball by Chad Allen. Three hitters later, Torii Hunter belted a two-run homer that scored John Barnes who doubled before him.
After New Orleans scored a run in the top of the second, Walker, who was 4-for-5 answered with an RBI-single in the second, and Mario Valdez, who extended his hitting streak to 13 with the hit in the first, scored Meintkiewicz with a sacrifice to increase the Buzz lead to 7-0.
New Orleans (29-29) scored four in the fourth, thanks in part to a three-run homer by Tripp Cromer, and then put up three more in the fifth with the aid of a two-run homer by James Betz sold to take the 8-7 lead.
Not to be outdone, Salt Lake took the lead for good with five runs in the sixth. Allen had a two-run double and Barnes had a two-run homer in the outburst.
"The credit strictly goes to the offense," Roof said. "Every at-bat they took with pride and tried to score runs."
Walker, Valdez, Allen, Barnes and Hunter all had two RBIs each for Salt Lake.
The two clubs square off Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Franklin Covey Field with Salt Lake's Alan Mahaffey (4-1, 4.66) battling Tony McKnight (0-2, 6.23).
E-MAIL: jhinton@desnews.com